The Steel Guitar Forum

I am interested in a Miller 8 string on ebay and would like some help on pricing. The ad says it is in good playable condition , I know It's not a modern steel but I like the simplicity. I had Carter Starter and was overwhelmed as a beginner . I have played Hudson six strings and that seems to work for the sounds I was looking for and I like vintage stuff . I built a 6 string pull release , two pedal so I am familiar with the beast. Thanks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miller-Pedal-St ... Track=true

It is set up for 4 pulls in the middle of the tuning. If you buy it you'll want to use a tuning that works with that. I'm not a hater, my main steel is a Miller, and it's a truly great guitar. Not all of them are, though.

Thanks for the reply. What tuning would you suggest ?

Looks like a mid '60s model, but as they don't mention a case or any extras, I think it may be overpriced for what you're getting. Sure, it can be modified and expanded, but you'd have to make parts and do the mods yourself to avoid going into a hole on it.

I was thinking it sounded on the high side . I emailed the seller about an offer but so far no reply. Thanks

Well, truthfully, I play mostly 10 string. My tunings are fairly close to standard E9 and C6. My other tunings are a 10-string G6 non-pedal, E13 and A6 nonpedal D-8 and a G13 on a single 8.

I suspect we could find a tuning that fits the pulls. Maybe a C6 or E13 version that would be useful?

Study 8 string tunings for notes that move on the middle 4.

Can't justify the money for the Miller . Thanks for the input

This is obviously built from Ten-String stock: The Headstock has provision for
strings 1 & 10 and the changer is ten strings wide, with positions 1 & 10 unoccupied.

As well, the neck insert and fretboard is of ten-string width and the pickup coil is the
same width but without mangets in positions 1 & 10.

More than likely the tuning is E9th 'chromatic' without the low D and B strings that are
the low end of the ten-string tuning.

From the four socket-head tuning screws in the changer and the look at the pedal cross-shaft
area, it likely has A and B pedals (though the A pedal pulls only string five, since there
is no 'Low B String') with a (unseen in the pics) right knee lever that more than likely
lowers string 4 (Miller 'factory' set-ups with more knee levers had one knee raising the
fourth string a whole-tone to F#, so this may be a possibility).

Notice also that the 'idle' strings, 1, 2, 7 and 8 are affixed to
the changer structure rather than going to the changer-finger.